Accidental finds during construction work near Aarhus, Denmark have led to the discovery of a trove of objects, some of them extremely rare, from what is believed to be the burial site of a Viking noble family from the time of King Harold Bluetooth.
About 30 graves from the 10th century were found, believed to belong to a family whose nearby farm was excavated a number of years ago. Officials from the city’s Moesgaard Museum, who are supervising the excavation, called the find “spectacular.”
Among the finds, along with pearls, coins, ceramics and a box containing gold thread—Viking burials included valuables to be used in the next world—was a “magnificent” wooden box containing decorative objects and a pair of scissors. “It’s very rare, there’s only three of them we know of,” a museum official told press. Excavations were due to be completed last week, and experts will then begin a detailed analysis of the finds.
